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$7 million class action settlement for Google Adwords invalid activity

Posted by David Brown 
· July 14, 2022 

Google agreed to pay $7 million to settle charges that it did not reimburse or credit its AdWords advertisers for fraudulent conduct/invalid activity.The 7$ million class action settlement helps Google AdWords advertisers who were charged for clicks on ads displayed on DoubleClick Ad Exchange websites. Between the timeline December 13, 2013, to April 28, 2022, whose accounts were not subject to an arbitration clause in their terms.

Businesses can advertise on Google search results using Google Ads (Google Adwords). These advertisements show up in pertinent searches and bring in customers for businesses.

Although these adverts can be helpful for companies trying to draw in clients, Google may not adequately reward advertisers. For example, according to a Google AdWords class-action lawsuit, Google refused some advertisers refunds or credits for clicks or impressions resulting from “invalid activity” or a breach of Google standards.

Plaintiffs contend that Google should have provided a refund or credit when clicks or impressions were discovered to result from fraudulent sources. In addition, the rules of Google’s advertising, the California False Advertising Law, and the California Unfair Competition Law were allegedly broken by failing to comply.

Despite refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing, Google consented to settle this class action lawsuit for $7 million. In addition, class members will receive a cash award under the terms of the Google AdWords settlement.

According to the money that class members have spent (on Google AdWords advertisements) on any of the DoubleClick Ad Exchange publisher site, each payment will represent a proportionate share of the net settlement fund. At this moment, there are no payment projections available. But the settlement excludes any payment from class members with less than a $1 proportional share of the settlement fund.

Now the question arises of who qualifies for the settlement? The settlement helps Google AdWords advertisers who were charged for clicks or impressions on ads that appear on DoubleClick Ad Exchange websites. The timeline for that is between December 13, 2013, to April 28, 2022, but whose accounts were not subject to an arbitration clause in their terms. Class members must submit a valid claim form by August 30, 2022, to be eligible for a payout from the Google AdWords settlement.

After settlement payments have been distributed, any extra money will be given to the non-profit advocacy organization Public Justice. The deadline date is August 20, 2022. The settlement’s final approval hearing is slated for October 27, 2022.

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Google Will Pay $7 Million in False Ad Clicks

Posted by David Brown 
· July 7, 2022 

Google accepts to pay its AdWord advertisers $7 million. The settlement covers the claims that Google did not commit to paying some AdWord advertisers for clicks and impressions from invalid activity.

When advertisers use Google Ads, every click from a client means they get many conversions or profits for their businesses. Unfortunately, sometimes Google doesn’t give them the proper compensation; hence, they charge them for the ads.

However, Google agreed to pay the settlement, but it has not accepted any wrongdoing on the issue.

Class Members Eligible for The Settlement

The beneficiaries will be advertisers who have operated AdWords accounts between 12/13/2013 to 4/28/2022. The accounts should not be subject to arbitration clause terms and must have been billed for clicks and ads.

AdWords advertisers argue that when Google found out there were invalid activities, they could have given out a refund. Failure to do that means there was a violation of advertisement terms by Google. California False Advertising Law supports this argument.

How the Refund Will Be Shared

According to Google, every payment will represent a specified percentage of the net settlement fund. That will be determined by how much each class member spent on Googe AdWords advertisements and has appeared on any publisher’s website of the DoubleClick Ad Exchange.

They can collect their refund as cash though it should be above $1. However, the class members with amounts below $1 will not get any refund. Notably, when Google refunds all the affected, the remainder will be given as a donation to Public Justice.

When is the Deadline?

Google announced that the deadline for exclusion is on 20/8/2022, and the final settlement hearing is on 27/10/2022. The class members are required to submit their claims by 30/8/2022.

Are there Any Potential Reward?

Google will discuss that, but so far, there is none.

How Do You Claim?

Class members who qualify should use a claim form found on the settlement website. Those who don’t qualify are advised to avoid filling out the form because it is illegal. It will also affect other class members because it is false. If members wish to know whether they are eligible, they can go through the Settlement Administrators Website and get the answers from FAQ.

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Settlement of EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Cost Hotel Owners $370,000

Posted by David Brown 
· July 5, 2022 

Federal officials claim that a hotel manager in Washington abused two female housekeepers sexually. Hotel owners neglected to look into the manager who harassed Latina housekeepers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced that GIPHX10, LLC, and Jaffer, Inc., Edmonton, Canada-based firm, will pay $370,000 to those who sexually abused two female former housekeeping employees. The company has also agreed to provide other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

The proprietors of the hotel allegedly allowed the male housekeeping manager to harass those housekeepers sexually. The EEOC claimed that the harassment included touching the women while they were cleaning hotel rooms by themselves, making fun of them for protesting the assaults, and making sexually suggestive remarks to them.

The manager also repeatedly threatened to rape one employee. One woman left her job due to her concern for her safety.

After one of the housekeepers and a bilingual co-worker complained about the harassment to the general manager, GIPHX10, LLC, and Jaffer, Inc. chose not to look into the claims in-depth. Instead, the owners turned a blind eye and accepted the manager’s denial. The general manager allegedly subsequently took revenge, according to the EEOC.

The claimed behavior breaks the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s Title VII. As a result, both employees entered into the EEOC lawsuit, added new state law allegations, and on June 3, 2021, the court added Jaffer, Inc. as a necessary party.

The two employees will receive $370,000 from GIPHX10, LLC and Jaffer, Inc. as part of the three-year consent order that ends the lawsuit. The company has also been asked to keep a consultant to create policies that help in preventing sexual harassment like this one.

According to the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace, workplace harassment increases when there is an enormous power difference and employees have limited English language proficiency. EEOC San Francisco District Director Nancy Sienko also said employers must inform employees about harassment policies in a language they can comprehend.

EEOC Senior Trial Attorney Carmen makes it clear that the Commission’s top priority continues to be protecting vulnerable workers and preventing and resolving workplace harassment.

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